The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee today announced dates and times for three public listening sessions to study the “Textalyzer” and any similar technology. The technology is designed to detect if a cellphone was used in the moments before a crash.

In July, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo directed the GTSC and its member agencies to study the technology and any issues associated with its implementation and use. At the conclusion of the study, a report will be issued containing GTSC’s findings.

The public listening sessions will all be held from 1-4 p.m. and are scheduled as follows:

September 25, 2017Westchester County Police Academy2 Dana RoadValhalla, New York 10595

November 9, 2017University of RochesterBloch Alumni and Advancement Center300 E. River RoadRochester, New York 14627

Each session will begin with a presentation on the “Textalyzer” and any similar technology that is available. Following the presentation, interested parties will be invited to provide their feedback on this developing technology. Submit written testimony and/or register to speak at SafeNY@dmv.ny.gov.

“This year, New Yorkers set an all-time record for seatbelt use. But many of those same motorists who are saving lives by buckling up are still texting behind the wheel, putting countless lives at risk,” said Terri Egan, Executive Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and Acting GTSC Chair. “While we continue to educate drivers about the dangers of texting and driving, we will also enforce current laws, and continue to study technology that will help prevent future crashes and determine the factors behind them.”

The expanded use of cell phones, especially for texting, endangers the safety of all motorists traveling on the state’s roadways. According to the University at Albany’s Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research (ITSMR), from 2011-2015, 678 people were killed and 169,694 people were injured in distracted driving crashes in New York State.

During that same time period, 1.2 million tickets were issued for cell phone violations. In 2015 alone, 217,021 tickets were issued for cell phone violations, and 39 percent of those were for texting while driving.